AsyncIndexUpdate job thread is utilizing too much heap space

Issue

AEM either crashes with an OutOfMemoryError, is running constant java garbage collection or is showing high heap utilization. On analysis of a heap dump in Eclipse Memory Analyzer Tool, the top consumer of java heap, an AsyncIndexUpdate thread is consuming the most retained heap via an instance of org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.index.lucene.OakDirectory$OakIndexInput:

Environment

AEM 6.1 / Oak 1.2.x and AEM6.2 / Oak 1.4.x

Cause

It is due to a known bug in Oak repository.

Resolution

The issue can be fixed by enabling Copy on Write feature of the Lucene Index Provider in AEM following the below steps:

Go to http://aem-host:port/system/console/configMgr and log in as admin

Find the "Apache Jackrabbit Oak LuceneIndexProvider" configuration

Enable the checkbox for "Enable CopyOnWrite"

Save

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